Millennium showdown was perfect for Lions – Gatland

BRITISH and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland viewed the intensity and physicality of Wales’ 30-3 victory over England in the Six Nations title decider at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday as ideal preparation for the summer tour of Australia.

BRITISH and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland viewed the intensity and physicality of Wales’ 30-3 victory over England in the Six Nations title decider at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday as ideal preparation for the summer tour of Australia.

After a bright start, the quality of rugby on show during the Six Nations disappointed Gatland – until the championship reached its sensational climax in Cardiff.

Wales retained their Six Nations crown with a record victory over England in what was a perfect scenario for a Lions coach.

Gatland said: “We felt there was a little bit of a fall-off in the quality of some of the games, but not in terms of the character and guts that were shown.

“And, on the last weekend, we couldn’t have asked for any more for the finale with one team playing for the Grand Slam and the other team still in with a chance of winning the championship.

“That set it up for us with a good level of intensity and physicality. There was some fantastic rugby played over the final weekend.”

But the Six Nations is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to selection.

Gatland and the Lions coaches held another meeting this week and experienced players such as Paul O’Connell, Dan Lydiate and Tommy Bowe, who all missed the championship through injury, remain in contention.

Lydiate will make his return from a broken ankle tonight, when he plays for the Dragons, while O’Connell will also make a timely return for Munster this weekend.

England loosehead prop Alex Corbisiero is also still in contention, another who, it appears, will only have to prove his fitness rather than his form to get on the plane.

For others, the European semi-finals weekend will be the final opportunity to nail down a place on the tour. Four years ago, one player was selected just an hour before the squad was announced.

The Lions management expect to still be having final discussions on the night before the April 30 announcement, when they will no doubt be dissecting performances from the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals.

Gatland had been asked to name his touring squad a week earlier, but put his foot down because of the important lessons he can learn from watching players perform with a final place at stake.

“We came under a bit of pressure to name the squad a week earlier from the suppliers who have to get a lot of the gear out, get the players suits done and stuff,” Gatland said.

“But that is a week that could potentially be significant where there is a lot up for grabs and it gives players who may have been injured more opportunity to come back.”

n Warren Gatland, British & Irish Lions 2013 head coach, was at St Michaels College, Dublin, to launch the FirstCape rugby coaching master class competition exclusive to Tesco Ireland. FirstCape are the leading South African wine brand and sponsors of the upcoming British and Irish Lions 2013 Tour of Australia

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British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland viewed the intensity and physicality of Wales’ 30-3 victory over England in the RBS 6 Nations title decider as ideal preparation for the summer tour of Australia.

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